Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Saturday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Bright sunshine
Beware of sunburn from bright spring sunshine, despite feeling cool in any breeze on higher terrain.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Bright sunshine
Beware of sunburn from bright spring sunshine, despite feeling cool in any breeze on higher terrain.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 21st March 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Mar 26 at
3:45PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cloud covering some western Scottish mountains much of day, a little rain or drizzle mostly Lochaber to Skye. Clearer hills east and southwards in the Highlands, and some breaks form in far northwest. Gusty winds toward north/west. Sunshine, haze and early low-level fog England & Wales, light winds.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Breezy, gusty in places. Generally dry, sun and patchy cloud west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 15 to 20mph, gustier 25mph for periods higher Cairngorms. Increasing evening-night to 35-45mph, over 50mph for a time overnight higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small during day, occasionally may feel more noticeably gusty higher areas. Deteriorating into night.
How Wet?
Precipitation rare if any
Possible light spots in the wind mainly toward Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly western tops, clearer east
Banks of cloud mostly 900m upward, mostly western Cairngorms and Monadhliath, lifting at times. Cloud higher and well broken eastwards, very little and largely clear toward Deeside & Lochnagar.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% west, to 90% eastern hills.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun and high cloud, may cloud over from west for a time. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C, rising slightly higher in east.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but patchy frost in glens and some sheltered higher areas around dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 22nd March 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Mar 26 at
3:45PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest becoming mostly westerly, 25 to 35mph, stronger gusts for a time around rain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery, affecting comfortable walking and balance at times on exposed high terrain. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain west, then snow flurries
Patchy rain in morning, mostly near/west of the A9, briefly showery moments mixed in, finishing as snow flurries on higher areas. Very little reaching Deeside. Local snow showers later mainly western areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher areas, then breaking
Covering higher areas above 900-1000m for a few hours, locally 800m near Drumochter. Then likely to lift and break from northwest, clearing toward higher slopes, brief patches on tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 80% afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy for a few hours, brighter eastwards, then improving to sunny spells from north afternoon. Visibility mostly good, later very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
+2 or 3C in morning, dropping during day from northwest, later to -1C. Feeling like -8 to -12C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits at first, but lowering during morning, to 1000m before noon north & west, 800m widely later in day.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 23rd March 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Mar 26 at
3:45PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West soon southwesterly, varied 25mph morning, risk 35mph at dawn. Then increasing rapidly to 50-70mph afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery at first, perhaps a relative lull for a few hours, but then rapidly deteriorating, walking increasingly difficult.
How Wet?
Risk rain later west
During afternoon toward / west of A9, risk patchy rain arriving, then becoming more persistent from west from dusk onward.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any until late
Later afternoon as rain develops, cloud starting to form over higher tops near Drumochter.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%, later afternoon 60%.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Early sun weakening as high cloud thickens, becoming overcast. Visibility excellent, later a little hazier.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to +2C by late afternoon. As wind increases, chill factor later feeling like -12 to -15C in exposure.
Freezing Level
700m plus frost in glens around dawn. Tending to rise, by late afternoon likely lifting just above freezing to highest tops.
Planning Outlook
A changeable mix during the week ahead, but feeling wintry with snow and hail showers widely into midweek. Fine conditions on Monday, but southwesterly winds increasing, later severe gales on Scottish mountains. A spell of rain by late Monday into the night with a brief rise of temperature, but the freezing level drops from the northwest again into Tuesday, falling sub-zero across all hills of Britain above 600-700m later Tuesday into Wednesday. Significant chill factor from gale force west then northwesterly winds. High pressure to the southwest then likely rebuilds to settle things again toward next weekend and temperatures will tend to recover. A mixed west to southwesterly flow may continue to bring more changeable conditions to west and northwest Scotland.